Utah same-sex marriage law under review by high court

Salt Lake City – Legal arguments have been presented to the Supreme Court regarding Utah’s decision to overturn a ban on same-sex marriage. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), there has been much emphasis on the suitability of gays and lesbians as parents in arguments presented by attorneys for the state.

In a 100-page filing, lawyers representing Utah referenced the opinion that children should be raised by heterosexual couples. A lawyer for same-sex couples asserted that there was no scientific evidence to back up the state’s argument and denying marriage rights to gays and lesbians is harmful to their children.

U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby ruled last month that the state’s ban on marriages between same-sex couples violated their constitutional rights. The state, which is heavily Mormon, is seeking to have the marriages stopped until there is a review by an appeal’s court of the judge’s decision. Over a reported 900 gay and lesbian couples have married since the ruling.